the lub meets at atherton airport · during a recent flight a local flying school aircraft, inbound...
TRANSCRIPT
November 2015 No 283
The Atherton Aero Club is an organization of aviation enthusiasts who promote the sport of aircraft building and flying.
The organization is associated with Recreation Aviation Australia Inc. The Club meets at Atherton Airport
every third Sunday of the month. Food and drinks are available and visitors are most welcome.
Newsletter No. 283 – November 2015
Trying out the new GoPro around the Atherton Tablelands. Great shots Jon.
November 2015 2 No 283
PRESIDENTS REPORT
Dave & Connie Graham are away in Brisbane attending their daughter’s wedding at the mo-
ment. Dave has asked me to pass on his best wishes for Christmas and the New Year and
that he will see you all at the Club Party on the 19th December - Editor.
Until next time Safe flying
Dave Graham, President, Atherton Aero Club Inc
President David Graham PO Box 425 TOLGA Q 4882 0407 008 896 [email protected]
Vice-President Ian Graham PO Box 858 ATHERTON Q 4883 0419 703 926 [email protected]
Secretary Tracey Hayes PO Box 608 KURANDA Q 4881 0418 963 796 [email protected]
Treasurer Jon Collins PO Box 1360 ATHERTON Q 4883 0438 634 411 [email protected]
Atherton Aero Club - Committee Contacts
EDITOR’S NOTE - by Bill Gronbeck
Hello and welcome to Newsletter No 283. In this issue—A little bit of everything. Thank you
Jon Collins and all those others who contributed to this edition.
Help advertise our activities by wearing a club shirt, an order form is included on page 18 of
this newsletter.
The committee has been looking at different options for advising members of club news and
events. You may have noticed more activity than has been usual on the club Facebook page
as a result. Of course Facebook is not the only means that will be used to communicate with
members, but it is a relatively simple way to get new information out there quickly.
Remember to regularly check the AAC Facebook page (see link below).
Please contact me with your newsletter contributions on any of the following: (07) 4036
2868 or 0408 073 142 or by email at - [email protected]
Keep an eye on the AAC’s Facebook Page and Website for the latest on coming events.
Web Page http://www.athertonaeroclub.org/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AthertonAeroClub?ref=hl
Regards and safe flying.
November 2015 3 No 283
November 2015 4 No 283
CASA AVSAFETY SYMPOSIUM, ATHERTON
A great turnout for the CASA AvSafety Seminar held at Atherton this November. Many faces we hadn't seen before, a few old ones we hadn’t seen for a while plus a few who travelled up from Townsville for the occasion. Many thanks to CASA Aviation Safety Advisor Kym Anquatil for her interesting presentation.
Attendees represented most sections of the local aviation community; fixed wing and rotary, commercial and private, CASA and RAA licenced. Discussion among the group was to the point and, thanks to Hamish, we are all much better informed about aerial agriculture opera-tions and the regulations covering them than we were before.
So just what did we learn? Well, first off, that there is a whole section of the CARs devoted to Aerial Application Operations, and second, that the pilots of ag aircraft are complying with those rules when operating at and around aerodromes such as Mareeba, Atherton and Innisfail.
Part 137 of CASR 1998 prescribes the rules that relate to flying and operating aeroplanes ------
in aerial application operations. “The pilot in command of an aeroplane engaged in an appli-
cation operation that involves a take-off from, or landing at, an aerodrome need not conform
with the circuit traffic protocol specified in the AIP for the aerodrome” (subject to certain con-
ditions of course –ED).
The Seminar was followed by the usual
club BBQ and gabfest.
A thanks to the organizers, an event well
worth attending.
The venue, Ian & Karen Graham’s
Hangar, Atherton
AAC President Dave Graham
welcomes Kym Anquatil
CASA AvSafety Symposium, Atherton Aerodrome
November 2015 5 No 283
CAUTION DRONES
No, not the buzzy bee type.
During a recent flight a local flying school aircraft, inbound to Mareeba from the south-west
and 3nm from aerodrome, had an encounter with a radio controlled drone. The instructor on
board reported the drone as passing within 50 metres of her aircraft at an altitude of 3000
feet (around 1500 feet AGL) and described it as a box shaped quad-copter.
The instructor submitted an on-line ATSB report the next day and was surprised by the speed
of the response. What was the drones altitude, colour, shape, markings, did you take a photo?
The ATSB was most interested in ascertaining whether it was being flown by a commercial op-
erator (who neglected to generate a Notam detailing the drones intended activities), or was
being flow illegally by a private individual.
As a general rule model aircraft and drones should not be flown more than 400 feet AGL or
over populated areas unless the operator has been specifically approved to do so.
The complete rules and operational limitations as they apply to Model Aircraft and RPAs
(Remotely Piloted “Drones”) can be obtained from the following site:
https://www.casa.gov.au/operations/standard-page/model-aircraft-and-rpa
An article “Rogue Drone Operators” can be found on the Flight Safety Australia website at:
http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2015/11/rogue-la-drone-operator-sentenced/
There are many legitimate commercial users of remotely controlled aircraft and we can ex-
pect their use to increase—another good reason to check the Notams every time we fly.
Unfortunately these types of encounters become more likely as private individuals who don’t
know or follow the rules obtain the relatively cheap and quite capable drones that are now
freely available.
November 2015 6 No 283
TOWNSVILLE FLYERS FUNFLIGHT—A Report From David Henry
On Sunday 8th November the Townsville Flyers participated in the annual FunFlight event at
the Townsville Airport. We have been doing this for about 5 years now and in the last 3 years
have airlifted over 200 children and carers each year making the Townsville effort one of the
largest in the country. This year we airlifted 235 children and carers.
Each year the Townsville Flyers team up with Parent Connect, Cootharinga NQL
http://www.cootharinga.org.au/services/parent-connect/ and with various pilots,
businesses the RAAF and Townsville Airports to provide an eventful day for children touched
with adversity.
A link to the FunFlight WEB site for further details of FunFlight:
http://www.funflight.org/index.html#home
A clip from Seven QLD’s Monday night news with myself flying VH-RTZ:
https://www.facebook.com/7NewsTownsville/videos/
vb.529629870416437/972349139477839/?type=2&theater
David has provided a run sheet / planner that he created for this year’s event. (Contact the
Editor if you would like a copy to help plan a similar event).
A selection of photos from the day are shown Below and on the Following Page
November 2015 7 No 283
TOWNSVILLE FLYERS FUNFLIGHT—Continued
November 2015 8 No 283
November 2015 9 No 283
A WRINKLE IN THE FABRIC—By Mike Gugeler
Yeah, it is a nice fly-in. Great weather and a lot of good folks with beautiful air-planes are here. Yes, your first guess was right; this is a Piper Cub, a 1946 model. Well thanks, I think it’s sort of pretty, too. Original? No, not completely. I rebuilt it a while back so there are lots of new parts but mostly it’s original underneath.
What’s that? Do I know about that wrin-kle in the fabric? Yeah, I sure do. That wrinkle tells a story. My dad put that there when we were rebuilding this air-
plane about 10 years ago. He was 80 years old then and had been covering fabric airplanes since long before I was around. This was my first attempt at dealing with fabric—I read the instruction book a few times and figured I knew all there was to know about it. So instead of listening to someone with experience, I got in a hurry and cut the cloth too short, too soon. Dad pulled my glue joint loose and stretched the fabric enough so I didn’t have to re-cover the whole fuselage. Saved yards of material and hours of time. It’s amazing this little wrinkle is all that’s left of the mess I made. When I see that flaw it reminds me to slow down and lis-ten to people who know more than I do. Now that I’ve covered a few airplanes myself and am becoming the one with experience it reminds me that I now have the responsibility to pass that knowledge on to someone else.
Have you ever built or restored an airplane? If you ever have, you’ll know that my eyes and hands have been over every inch of this airplane many times, with paint and glue brushes, hot irons, paint spray guns, sandpaper, tack rags, washing sponges, and sometimes just a bare hand to feel what can’t be seen. So, I know just about every blemish, flaw, and triumph on this old bird. Here, duck under the wing and I’ll show you some more lessons this Cub can teach.
This little run in the paint here? I love that run. I was spraying the final coat of yellow when Dad stuck his head in the paint booth. “Hey, I’m grabbing a beer, you want one?” he asked. I looked away just long enough that my hand bumped something and interrupted the spray gun’s path. A moment of inattention rewarded with this little run. I could have sanded and buffed to make it disappear but I left it alone. It taught me about tending to the matter at hand. That paint run stays.
Over here, on this landing gear leg—see that scratch? I had the honour of giving a ride to an old World War II fighter pilot. His legs didn’t work as well as they used to and he needed some help getting into the seat. That scratch is where his foot dragged while getting in. He’d learned to fly in a Cub back when he offered his all to his country. I taxied out and did the take-off then told him, “It’s all yours, go wherever you want.” It had been more than 50 years but he flew as if he’d never left the cockpit. He didn’t say much, but I knew he was deep in memories.
Continued next page/
November 2015 10 No 283
A WRINKLE IN THE FABRIC—Continued
He flew for a while and I rode along, but I wish I could have been on the same flight he was. That old fighter pilot can’t drive a car anymore and spends most his time in bed now, but he left his mark on this country and on this airplane. Some memorials are not made of stone.
One day I took a kid on a Young Eagle ride. It was his first airplane ride ever and he was excit-ed to go. He put his foot in almost the same place and made this other scratch right beside the fighter pilot’s. We flew all over the place low and slow with the doors open and saw his house and school and woods and creeks he’d known only from the ground. He saw his world as never before and that kid got hooked on flying that day. He got a job, is saving his money, and comes out to the airport whenever he can to spend it all on flying lessons. I could spray a little paint or try to buff out those marks, but I think I’ll wait a while—maybe until the old fighter pilot makes his last flight and the kid solos.
Look here, under this wing strut. That thing that looks like a fingerprint? That’s a fingerprint. I painted this strut with slow-drying enamel and even though I knew it wasn’t dry I just had to pick the thing up to look at my beautiful work. Now when I’m on my back wiping oil off the belly I see that fingerprint and it reminds me to have patience.
Sight down that pinked tape on top of this wing. See where it narrows slightly, like an old Coke bottle? One of those little pinked ears was sticking up and needed a slight touch of a cool iron to put it in place. I had the hot iron in my hand and instead of walking 20 feet to get the cool iron I used what I had handy. Too much heat made the fabric shrink and put a big ol’ curve in that nice straight tape. Now I have a reminder not to shout when a whisper will do.
If we looked closer I could show you a lot of other flaws with a lesson in each, some that I haven’t learned yet.
So yeah, I knew about that wrinkle in the fabric but hadn’t remembered it in a long time. Thanks for reminding me of something I don’t want to lose. They say a Cub is a great teacher and I agree—but it’s not just about flying. It has more lessons than that to give.
Have you ever flown in a Cub? No? Well then, how about you hop up in that seat while I give this propeller a tug. I think it’s time we learn something…
- - - o o o - - -
November 2015 11 No 283
KEEPING TRACK OF OTHER AIRCRAFT—By Bill Gronbeck
Most people are aware by now that OzRunways subscribers can use their iPad to keep track
of other aircraft that are utilising the same feature. Obviously not all of the aircraft traffic in
your area will be displayed but it’s still a useful tool for enhancing your situational awareness
(also great for finding out what your flying buddies are up to).
There is some degree of paranoia out there that big brother will be watching, however, If one
feels that way there is always the option of de-activating that iPad feature. Personally I see
the facility as just another safety feature to be utilized during a flight.
Flight tracking is not a new thing. See the FlightRadar24 image at the bottom of the page.
Very useful to check the current ETA of a flight when you are picking up mum at the airport.
OzRunways traffic can also be obtained on your PC or Laptop at the following website:
https://tx.ozrunways.com/
No use to you from a traffic point of view but great for following a flight if you are holding
Sarwatch for a pilot friend. Check out the webpage.
Above Left & Right:
Images from the tx.ozrunways website
Left:
An image from the flightradar24 website
November 2015 12 No 283
NORTH QUEENSLAND NEWS
The NQAC is STILL on the move!
The move to Mareeba Aerodrome is progressing well. 80% done, 80% to go as
they say. A big thank you to the members who have assisted with the working
bees so far. Your continued help in that area would be most appreciated.
The closure of the Cairns site in the next few weeks should see an easing of
workload for the instructional staff as all flying school operations are consolidat-
ed at Mareeba. No more shuffling aircraft and personnel back and forth between
the two bases.
Expect work at the Mareeba facility to continue over the next few months while
we settle in to our new home. Your patience and understanding is requested dur-
ing that time.
See you at the Wings Night on the 5th December.
November 2015 13 No 283
Now THAT’S a Heavy Landing!!!
Accident: Aviatraffic B733 at Osh on Nov 22nd 2015, hard landing collapses all gear
An Aviatraffic Company Kyrgyzstan Boeing 737-300, registration EX-37005 performing flight
YK-768 from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Osh (Kyrgyzstan) with 153 passengers and 6 crew, per-
formed an ILS approach to Osh's runway 12 at about 07:56L (01:56Z) but touched down hard
causing all gear to collapse and separate, the aircraft went off the runway and ran over rough
terrain, the left hand engine (CFM56) separated and the right hand engine received substan-
tial damage before the aircraft came to a stop about 1500 meters down the runway. 3 occu-
pants received serious, 5 occupants minor injuries. 6 injured were taken to hospitals, two re-
fused treatment. The aircraft sustained substantial damage beyond economic repair
Somehow my landings now don’t seem quite so bad. ED.
November 2015 14 No 283
ATHERTON HANGAR FOR SALE
“Savannah Haus”
Contact Barry Smith on 0457 816 761 for further details.
50% Share of Hangar Available at Atherton Airport
14m x 15m Hangar – fits three aircraft with ease.
Currently fully tenanted
Power and water
Store your aircraft for no or minimal cost
Call for details
$50,000 Contact Jon Collins on 0438 634411 or [email protected]
November 2015 15 No 283
HANGAR SPACE AVAILABLE—ATHERTON AIRPORT
Would suit small aircraft.
Easy access. No having to move other aircraft.
$220 a month includes GST.
Call: Ian Graham - mobile 0419 703 926.
November 2015 16 No 283
INTERESTING and/or USEFUL LINKS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPvKl6ezyc
Jetmen fly formation with A380
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Study-Toy-Drone-Strikes-Pose-
Greater-Hazard-Than-Birds-225283-1.html
Toy drone strikes pose a greater hazard than birds
Our next get-together will the Atherton Aero Club CHRISTMAS PARTY & FLY-IN on
SATURDAY the 19th DECEMBER from 6pm until Late.
Venue: Jack & Jenny Cross’s Hangar (The big one) on Atherton Airport.
See page 3 for full details.
ATHERTON AERO CLUB MONTHLY BBQ
November 2015 17 No 283
Atherton Aero Club
AAC—2015 EVENTS CALENDAR
December Saturday 19th—AAC Christmas Party (NOTE CHANGED DATE)
OTHER AVIATION EVENTS
December Sunday 13th—Charters Towers $100 Hamburger Fly-In
(Check the RAAus Web site for other Coming Events)
North Queensland Aero Club
NQAC—2015 EVENTS CALENDAR
December Saturday 5th—Wings Night, Cairns Casino.
Regular club events will resume on completion of the clubs relocation to Mareeba
November 2015 18 No 283
Club Shirt Order Form
Sizes available
Men’s (Half Chest Size) Ladies (Half Chest Size)
Small 52cm Size 8 46.5cm
Medium 55cm Size 10 49.0cm
Large 58cm Size 12 51.5cm
XLarge 62cm Size 14 54.0cm
XXLarge 65cm Size 16 56.5cm
XXXLarge 71cm Size 18 59.0cm
Children shirts available on request
Price per Shirt $35.00 Each
Name.................................................
Size...................................................
Qty....................................................
Payment required prior to Supply (No Returns)
Payment Details
Bank Bendigo Atherton
BSB:633 000 Account 114 33 1796
Please use your name as Reference
November 2015 19 No 283
SPECIAL OFFER—Join now and enjoy membership
through to the end of December 2016
XXXXXX
BSB 633-000